Combination slip-socket.



S. BULLUM.

COMBINATION SLIP SOCKET;

APPLICATION FILED Nov.6. 1916.

1,244,289.. Patented Oct. '23, 1917.

STEVE BULLUM, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

COMBINATION SLIP-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 191 '7.

Application filed November 6, 1916. Serial No. 129,770.

This invention relates to that class of devices more especially adapted for the removal of lost tools from oil or gas wells and more particularly of that type wherein the structure is such that any size shank or stem is automatically gripped upon engagement with same.

More specifically the invention consists in providing a tool of the character described with a plurality of gripping jaws adapted to be automatically forced downwardly and inwardly to grip a tool shank, the jaw releasing mechanism being operated by contact with the lost tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to enable the successful use of the slip socket in instances where a portion of the shank of the lost tool is broken off and still another is to provide an outwardly flaring enlarged mouth for dislodging tools from the wall of the well.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of -reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in wh1ch Figure 1 is an elevational view of a fishing tool constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lock block removed from the casing.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form. of lock block.

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional vieiw of a modified form of the invention, an a Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective viewof the hook catch.

Reference numeral 1 indicates the body of the tool which is in the form of a hollow cylinder, the opening extending upwardly into the same from the lower end, the upper end being provided with the usual threaded extremity and wrench grip 2. The 1nner .Wall of the opening is beveled or inclined inwardly as shown at 5, for reasons which will more clearly hereinafter appear. The body 1 is also provided with oppositely arranged elongated slots 6 and 7 with inwardly and downwardly beveled lower Walls 6' and 7 The upper wall of the opening is formed with depression 9 in which a sprmg 10 seats.

The spring 10 is preferably coiled, and as previously stated has one end seated in the depression 9. The opposite end is mounted on the sliding block 11 which has annular extension 12 to receive same.

Bolts or pins 14 and 15 with threaded extremities project from the block 11 and are adapted to travel within the elongated slots 6 and 7 in the body. Upon these pins are carried the interchangeable jaws 16, 17. These jaws are provided with the usual inner gripping faces 18, 19 respectively and opposite the gripping faces 18, 19 are the beveled faces 18, 19. The jaw shanks 20, 21 are provided with openings 22, 23 through which the pins 14, 15 pass. A plurality of washers 24 are provided to secure the proper adjustment of the jaws on the pins 14, 15 and the nuts 25, 26 hold the arrangement assembled.

A look block 27 havin two sets of projecting guides 28, 29, whic retain and guide the block in its movement with relation to the elongated slots 6, 7, and also act as guides for the jaws 16, 17 which are arranged to slide within their respective set of guides-is adapted to release and lock the jaws as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

An enlarged outwardly flaringextension 30 is shown which may be used in cases where the well isof greater diameter than the socket body, and it will be clearly seen that should the tool lean against the wall of the well this edged flaring device will direct the stem of the tool withln the jaws.

A block 32 is shown removably secured to the lock block to enable the use of the device when the lost tool has a broken stem or shank.

The operation of the device'is as follows :When a tool has been lost and it is desired to utilize the present invention for removing same, the gripping jaws of the combination slip socket are first raised to an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2. This is accomplished by raising the sliding block 11 upon which is seated the lower end of the spring, and which carries the gripping jaws such raising of the sliding block being efiected by suitably applying the requisite pressure thereto, to overcome the spring pressure, the means employed therefor being suitably passed by hand through the slots 6, 7 into contact with the block, the hooks 38 and 39 as the jaws reach the required elevation snapping into engagement and thus retaining the jaws. These jaws are locked in elevated position by means of the lock block 27, which will, because of its weight, drop into engagement with the j awheads and thus retain the jaws at their maximum separation. With the jaws thus elevated the tool is lowered into the well until the shank/of the lost tool engages the lock block and raises same. The'jaws'will then immediately move downwardly because of 'the spring pressure, and by virtue of the co-acting inclined wall securedly grip the shank of the tool.

It will be clearly obvious that an automatic and instantaneous gripping action is secured regardless of the. s1ze of the lost tool, and that this variable gripping capacity is secured without weakening the tool structure or in any manner injuring its use or value from a mechanically proficient standpoint.

Attention is also called to the detachable deflector 30 which will enable its use in wells of diflerent sizes. This interchangeable feature will eliminate the necessity of making the tool body in a number of difi'erent sizes.

The block 32 is adapted to be removably secured to the lock block and by this means a successful use of the invention is made possible in cases where the lost tool has been broken, the block 32 substituting for the broken portion and permitting the engage,

ment of the shank with the lock for releasing same.

i From an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the cross rod 35 limits the downward movement of the sliding block 11, and the upward movement of the lock block 27 so that the several parts of the device will be partially restricted in their operation.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the main elements are present as in the preferred forms, there being shown the casing lwith the side slot 7 into which projects the end 15 of the sliding block 11 that is similarly tensioned as at 10.

In this form of the device, the jaw-shanks 36 have the usual gripper heads 37 operating similar to the heads 18 and 19. A pair of cooperating hooks are carried by the sliding block 11 and the casing 1, the hook 38 carried by the sliding block being normally in disengaged position, disposed directly beneath the hook 39 carried by the casing, so that when the sliding block moves igeaase upwardly a sufficient distance the hooks 33 and 39 will become engaged and spring the arms 36 outwardly to release a tool there from.

After a fishing tool has gripped the lost tool, it is sometimes necessary to release the same, and this is accomplished by permitting the tool to drop suddenly which will cause the gripped tool to move the mechanism upwardly against the tension of the spring 10, so that the hook 38 will engage and be retained by the hook 39 with a subsequent springing outwardly of the arms 36 to re- .lease the gripped tool. A partial mutilation of the device results from this operation in that the rod 35 is destroyed to permit contact with the lower projection 11* of the sliding block 11.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a novelarrangement of hook engagement between the sliding block 11 and the casing 1 is presented, and in various instances this form of construction will be preferred. The casing 1 is of similar con-. struction to the other forms and arranged transversely of the upper end of the slots 6 and 7 are hook catches 40 having sharp. edges 41, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and retained in position by the fastening screws 42. Catch hooks 42 are carried by the diametrically opposite sides of the sliding block 11 and projecting into the slots 6 and 7 and normally lie within the vertical .plane of the catches 40. Grapple shanks 4:3 depend from the sliding block and operate similarly to the previously described forms.

The operation will be readily understood from this detailed description; a lost tool after being gripped by the jaws and-suddenly moved upwardly by dropping the easin 1, will initially. break the)rod 35, and su sequently strike. the depending projection 11 on the sliding block and move the block and hooks 4C2 upwardly until the hooks 42 engage the catches 40 at which time the jaw lllld shanks will spring outwardly to release it caught tool.

Various forms of hook-arrangements may be employed to hold the arms 36 expanded and the form shown is a conventional one,

and while I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that various means for elevating said jaws, means for automatically lowering said jaws, and means adapted to lie directly upon said jaws being freely movable relative thereto and traveling in said guide slots for releasing said jaws when in elevated position.

2. A combination slip socket comprising a hollow body having guide slots formed therein, a sliding member arranged in said hollow body, jaws arranged within said body and secured to said sliding member, means for locking said jaws in elevated position and releasing same, said means comprising a sliding body and being provided with a plurality of sets of extensions adapted to slide within said guide slots and receive said gripping jaws and be freely movable independently of the gripping jaws.

3. A combination slip socket comprising a socket member formed with an opening extending upwardly into the same from the lower end, elongated slots formed in the wall I of said socket, a sliding block provided with projecting pins, said pins being adapted to travel within said slots, jaws carried by said pins, means for adjusting said jaws on said pins, a spring adapted to sea. on said block and retain the same normally in its lower position, and a guide block for said jaws adapted to bind the same in adjusted position.

4:. A device of the character described I ment with said jaws and being adapted to cooperate with the inner walls of said firstmentioned body to release and lock said jaws.

STEVE BULLUM. 

